On a Slippery Slope Read online

  “Um … yes,” I say, snapping back to reality. “So is Gabby in my class, too?”

  I know if she says yes, and Gabby is in my class, I might actually survive this year, but if she says no, then I’m toast.

  Mrs. Locke shakes her head and I know before she even opens her mouth … I’m somebody’s breakfast.

  * * *

  My classroom is on the third floor, at the top of the stairs. I knock on the door and step inside.

  Ms. Winters looks up from taking attendance. “Oh, hi. You must be Hannah,” she says, warmly.

  I nod.

  “Class, please say hello to our new student, Hannah Smart. She’s just moved here from Vermont.”

  “Hello …” a few people mutter.

  “You can take a seat over there by the window,” Ms. Winters says, pointing to an empty desk.

  I scan the room and see that Chloe and Ivy are sitting on the other side, about as far away from me as you can possibly get, thank god. Even so, I can feel them staring death rays into my skin. I don’t dare look at them because I know full well that’s exactly what they want me to do. I want to yell, “Seriously, grow up! I’m not going to look at you!” But then I’d probably look at them and that would defeat the purpose.

  “Hannah, you can pick up your textbooks at the back of the room.” Ms. Winters points to a shelf. “Chloe, could you help her collect them?”

  “Sure, Ms. Winters. I’d be happy to.” Chloe grins sweetly.

  As Chloe finishes collecting my books, she flashes me a big, friendly (FAKE) smile, and then winks, which I suspect is meant to scare me or something.

  How do people get to be so evil? Are they born this way?

  I walk slowly to the back, passing right by Ivy, who actually hisses at me. Can you believe it? She sounds just like a cat or a snake or maybe a teenage hissing zombie. It’s so weird that I can’t help but laugh, which turns out to be a big mistake because as soon as she hears me, she jets out her leg, catching me right in the shins. My hands automatically fly out in front of me, an automatic reaction to protect my head from hitting the hard tile floor, which is coming toward me at lightning speed. My hands hit first with a burning smack! I instantly pop back up and yell, “I’m okay!” to anyone who cares. No one does. They’re all too busy laughing.

  “Oh, Hannah, are you okay?” Ms. Winters cries from the front of the class.

  “Yup, I’m fine,” I say over the sounds of giggling. Of course, I’m everyone’s focus again, for the second time today. I expect that Chloe must be laughing her head off, but when I look over, she’s frowning. Does she feel bad for me? Maybe she thinks Ivy went too far. I brush off the dirt from my leggings and continue on toward her. She is awaiting my arrival with a huge pile of textbooks. Do I dare smile? I do.

  She smiles back, and I think I might be in the clear, but then she whispers, “Ooooops,” and lets the entire stack fall to the floor.

  I pick up my books, turn on my heel, and walk back to my desk, steering clear of evil Ivy.

  “Eeeek!” I hear a familiar voice coming from the hall. All I can see is a massive head of sandy blond curls (that must belong to Gabby) bouncing by the doorway, then, “Hannnnaaaaahhhh! Catch you at break! I can’t wait for you to meet my twin!”

  The class is laughing, Ms. Winters is shaking her head, and all I can think is — Gabby has a twin?

  3

  Just Sign on the Dotted Line

  The morning bell rings for break and I instantly panic. What am I going to do now? How can I sort out this Gabby/twin/A.J. business when two girls will be lurking out in the hall just waiting for their chance to pounce?

  The hallway is crazy, full of kids laughing, running, ripping open chip bags, and peeling back banana peels. Chloe and Ivy, who I’ve decided to call “The Queens of Mean,” are nowhere in sight, thank god, but then, neither is Gabby. This is the worst! I am desperate to find out about her twin, who I know can’t be a girl; Gabby said she only had one brother and that was it. So A.J. must be her twin! Now I’m more desperate than ever to find out if he’s the guy I met on the plane!

  Where is she? The only glimpse I’ve seen of her all day was that flash of blond breezing by the doorway, but that was an hour ago —meaning the last sixty minutes of my life have been pure torture! Come to think of it, this whole day has been!

  Suddenly, from across the hallway, I hear a familiar laugh. It’s not Gabby’s laugh, but I know it. I’ve heard it before. I spin around to see a boy, his hand pushing a glistening lock of sandy blond hair from his eyes. Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it. It’s him — the guy from the plane! A.J.!

  My legs go weak and I stumble back into my locker. He has to be her brother —they have the same eyes, the same colour hair, and the same cute dimples! Holy wow! A.J. is the boy version of Gabby.

  He doesn’t notice me, which is good because my whole body has gone to mush and I’m starting to get that annoying, tingling feeling under my arms again that makes me hope I remembered to put deodorant on this morning. He’s running his finger down a paper that’s tacked to the wall and laughing at something the boy beside him is saying.

  “Nah, you worry too much, dude. You’ll get to go. We’ll figure it out!”

  “Loser!” Chloe jeers, waking me out of my trance.

  “Don’t even think about it.” She nods in A.J.’s direction. “He’s totally out of your league.”

  “Yeah, and if you go near him, it will be a bad day in Hannah-land,” Ivy says, narrowing her eyes.

  “Hannah-land, hmmmm …” Chloe says, putting a finger to her chin. “I like it! Hannah’s little imaginary world where she thinks a guy like that would ever talk to her.”

  “Why are you so mean?” I bark back.

  Suddenly, A.J. looks up, and stares straight into my eyes, which I’m sure, are like saucers. “Hey, I know you!” he exclaims.

  “Um …” is all I can manage.

  “You’re the girl from the plane,” he says, his smile widening to the point where I can’t help but notice that he has the most perfect teeth I’ve ever seen — like, ever. “Wow, what are you doing here? You go to this school?”

  “Um … uh …” I am so seriously mad at myself! Why can’t I speak?

  “How come I’ve never seen you before? Are you new?”

  “Oh, there you are!” Gabby yells, happily waving as she runs toward us. “Yay! You finally met my twin!”

  “Hold it,” A.J. says, pointing at me, “you know her?”

  “Yeah, she’s the new girl from across the street … the one I took to the concert.”

  “WHAT! Everybody shut up!” Chloe whips her head around, focusing death-ray eyes on Gabby. “This is the girl —” She angrily points her finger in my direction “— that you took to the concert instead of me!” Chloe’s face is so red that if she were a volcano she’d be erupting right about now. “I told you I wanted that ticket, Gabby!”

  “Well, I must have forgot,” Gabby snips, folding her arms over her chest.

  A.J. chimes in, “So, let me get this straight. The girl from the plane is the same girl you took to the concert?”

  “I don’t know.” Gabby smirks. “Is this the girl you told me about, the pretty one who almost stole your iPod?”

  “Gabby …” A.J. puts his fingers to his lips and makes a face at her.

  “Well, is she?” Gabby asks again, not letting him off the hook.

  “Looks like it,” A.J. replies, his dimpled cheeks suddenly pink.

  “Um … hi,” I squeak.

  “It’s Hannah, right?” he says, just as the bell rings.

  “Yup, it’s me! Hannah Banana,” I blurt out, grinning ear to ear like a complete idiot. Why did I say that? I hate, hate, HATE when people call me that.

  “A.J.” He smirks, sticking out his hand.

  He wants me to shake it! What kid does that? He did it on the plane, too. If I touch that hand, I know what will happen — my knees will go weak, I won’t be able to speak, and I’ll
make a total fool of myself again. Super, now what am I going to do?

  “Well, this is great! We all know each other!” Gabby puts her arms around both of us, saving me from A.J.’s outstretched hand. “Well, gotta get to class,” she says, letting go. Once she’s halfway down the hall, she turns and yells back, “Oh, and you have to join our club! See you at lunch.”

  “Club?” I say, looking at A.J., who is now the only person left in the hallway besides me.

  “Yeah,” he says, all smiling and dimply. “There’s the signup sheet on the wall.” He points to where he was standing earlier. “If you want to meet people and have fun, sign up … if you dare,” he adds with a chuckle.

  Just then, Ms. Winters pokes her head out of the classroom and points to the clock. “Time to get moving, Hannah. Class is starting.”

  I look down at my hands, which are empty, and then back at A.J.

  “Heads up!” he yells, throwing me a pen.

  I run over and scribble my name on the bottom of the sheet, not knowing exactly what for. Oh well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

  4

  Minutes in the Library

  Heethinks I’m pretty.… He actually told Gabby that I’m pretty. He wants me in his club! “He lent me his pen!” I blurt out, surprising myself.

  Ms. Winters, who is writing word problems on the whiteboard, twists her head over her shoulder, closes her eyes, and asks, “Is there a problem, Hannah?”

  A few kids snicker.

  “No, Ms. Winters, no problem at all,” I say, suddenly aware of the fact that I am holding A.J.’s pen in the air.

  “Well, good; let’s try to control the random outbursts, okay?”

  “Sure,” I answer, pulling my hand down.

  Just as the laughter dies down and Ms. Winters starts writing again, something smacks me in the head — hard. I suck air in through my clenched teeth, not daring to make a sound. The pain is searing and I feel a lump forming beside my temple. It really hurts! This is getting old! A girl beside me points at my desk where an eraser has landed. I wonder if it was from one of the Queens of Mean — probably! As I turn to look in their direction, another eraser hits me square in the forehead. Great! Another lump, thanks to Chloe. That one could have taken out my eye! Well, she’s not getting her eraser back. I pick it up and dig my name into it. That will teach her!

  “Ms. Winters!” Chloe says, stretching her hand in the air.

  “Yes, Chloe.”

  “May I please get my eraser from Hannah?”

  “Why does Hannah have your eraser?”

  “I lent it to her.”

  “No, you didn’t,” I say.

  “Yes, I did, Hannah, and I would appreciate it if you gave it back.” Chloe narrows her eyes, flashing a nasty grin.

  “Hannah, give her back her eraser,” Ms. Winters says as she twists the cap off her water bottle.

  “But …”

  “You’re welcome,” Chloe sings sweetly, plucking the eraser from my fingers.

  “For what?”

  “For the loan of my eraser.” She laughs. “Oh, and Ivy needs hers back, too.” She squats down and picks up an eraser beside my desk. “Hmmm … maybe tomorrow you’ll remember to bring your own.”

  “What!” I yelp. Is she seriously for real?

  “Hannah, do we have a problem?” Ms. Winters asks, frowning.

  “Nope.”

  After that, I figure the Queens must have gotten bored with their Torture Hannah Game, because the rest of the morning turns out to be pretty uneventful, not that I would have noticed, because all I can think of is A.J. — he thinks I’m pretty!

  When the bell rings, I can’t get out of that classroom quickly enough. In the thirty seconds it takes me to fly to my locker, grab my lunch, and slam the door shut, Gabby is beside me.

  “Wow, you’re fast!” I say, relieved I don’t have to go looking for her.

  “We have to get good seats!” she squeals. “Come on!” She grabs my arm and whisks me down the hall to the library where kids are already starting to gather.

  “So, you’re gonna love this club,” Gabby says, her eyes lighting up like it’s Christmas. “Everyone is super social! It’s the perfect place to make friends!”

  Phew! I have to admit, I’m pumped that this is a social club, and not some boring chess or math club. I mean a social club is the perfect place to meet people and … to be social! I’m totally social — this is perfect!

  “Yay! We’re about to get started,” Gabby says, squeezing my arm. “A.J. looks like he’s almost ready.” She points to the desk at the front where A.J. is standing. He’s wearing a light-blue V-neck T-shirt, khaki pants, and burgundy Vans, which make him look super cool. Judging from all the girls around him, I’d say I’m not the only one who thinks so.

  “Ahem,” A.J. says loudly, “Great crowd today! Looks like it’s going to be a wicked year! Are you ready for some fun?”

  The room cheers.

  “Okay, so we need to get organized; who’s going to volunteer to take minutes?” A.J. scans the room.

  “Did anyone come prepared?” He throws up his arms. “Guys, we go through this every year. Doesn’t anyone have paper?”

  Suddenly, I realize he’s staring right at me, or more specifically, at the pad of paper, which Gabby has just shoved into my hands.

  “You should do the minutes,” Gabby whispers in my ear. “The more involved you get, the more fun you’ll have.”

  “Glad to see you made it!” A.J. walks over to my table as thirty pairs of eyes follow. “I’m a bit surprised, actually; I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “Pardon?” I don’t know if I’m more shocked or confused. I mean, what the heck! He doesn’t know me! And he told me to sign the paper! “You told me to sign the paper,” I mutter through my teeth.

  He laughs. “I’m just saying I’m surprised you did.”

  “Why are you surprised?” I reply, wishing everyone would stop staring at me.

  He leans over and whispers, “Well, you’re not really the type, are you?”

  “What?” I say a little louder this time.

  “Maybe I’m wrong, but when I met you back in Glen Haven you seemed a bit nervous. Remember?” He smirks. “You know, going on your very first plane ride and all.”

  “Yeah, I remember,” I answer, but what I really feel like saying is: I also remember that smirk on your face. I didn’t like it then, and I don’t like it now.

  “Honestly.” He shrugs. “You just don’t strike me as the adventurous type.”

  “Adventurous!” I suck in a breath. “How adventurous do you have to be to socialize with a bunch of people from Maple Ridge?”

  Everyone gasps.

  “Um,” I stammer, “I mean Maple Ridge people, or Maple Ridgers, or whatever you call yourselves, are awesome, like, the friendliest people on Earth, or so I’ve been told, and well … I’m looking forward to socializing with all of you!”

  The room falls silent, and everyone is glaring at me like I’m an alien who’s just eaten half the town, but still wants to know if we can all be friends.

  Chloe breaks the silence. “Oh, Hannah, maybe where you’re from people are slow, but here in Maple Ridge, we go far too fast to socialize.” She meanders her way up through the library tables and positions herself at A.J.’s side.

  “Yeah,” A.J. says, confused. “You must really take your time if you can chit-chat.”

  Chit-chat? What’s wrong with chit-chatting?

  “She … even … looks … slow,” Ivy says, stretching out her words for effect.

  “I’m not slow!” I yell.

  Who do these people think they are? Some social club!

  “Well, maybe you’re not, but I doubt you’re as fast as A.J.,” one of the kids yells.

  Okay, at this point, I am totally confused. They can’t be talking about socializing, unless they sit around making up rap songs. Rap music is fast sometimes. Maybe this is a rapping club! That would be fun!
I like rap … sort of. Anyway, I’m sure I could learn to do it in no time, and I’m so mad right now that it doesn’t even matter what kind of club this is.

  “I might be!” I bark.

  “I doubt it,” some dude says, shaking his head and snickering. “A.J.’s the best!”

  “Well, how do you know he’s better than me? Maybe I’m great!” I say, suddenly feeling all of the confidence in the world.

  “You go, girl!” Gabby says punching my arm. “I bet you’re better than my brother! Maybe you can coach me!”

  “Coach you?” I look at her in panic. What is she talking about? What kind of club is this! What have I gotten myself into?

  “So, how many races have you actually won?” A.J. smirks. “I mean, I do believe that you’re good, being from Vermont and all, but how do you know that you’re better than me?”

  “Races?” I say, rubbing my chin.

  Everyone is staring at me, waiting for an answer.

  “Well,” Ivy demands. “How many competitions have you won?”

  “You guys have competitions?” I whisper to Gabby.

  “Well, yeah.” Gabby frowns. “Obviously.”

  “And you race?” I look up at A.J.

  “Look,” Chloe says, “this is getting boring. How many snowboard competitions have you actually won?”

  “Snowboard competitions?” I bite my lip.

  “Hey, guys, give her a break. Maybe she’s not into snowboarding,” A.J. says, shrugging. “Maybe she skis. So, which is it, Hannah? Do you ski or snowboard?”

  “Oh, A.J., she probably does both,” Gabby scolds. “So what’s your favourite — skiing or snowboarding?”

  The whole room is silent. They’re all waiting for my answer.

  “Tick tock,” Chloe says, tapping her watch.

  “Um,” I say, my thumbnail digging sharply into my palm.

  Ivy plants her hands on her hips. “So, which is it?”